Value Stocks Are Beating Growth Again

Value stocks have thoroughly trumped their growth counterparts since the start of this young century. The unwinding of the tech bubble led to significant relative outperformance by value stocks every year from 2001 through 2006.

Last year, however, growth stocks got going. In 2007, the iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index ETF ( IWF) returned 11.6%, according to Morningstar, compared with a loss of 30 basis points for the iShares Russell 1000 Value Index ( IWD). (A basis point is 1/100th of a percentage point.)

Many growth managers celebrated the victory, believing they had turned the tide. Fund managers believed the slowing economy would continue to favor their higher-multiple stocks as investors would search out companies that could provide top- and bottom-line growth.

So far, last year's triumph is looking short-lived. Value stocks have fallen significantly less than growth year-to-date. The Russell 1000 value ETF is down 3.9% so far this year, versus a drop of 6.2% for the growth ETF.

The average large-cap growth fund, according to Morningstar, is down 8% year-to-date, almost double the loss of the average large-cap value fund. Over the last three months the average large-cap value fund has lost 50 basis points, three full percentage points better than its growth counterpart.

"As much as people don't want the growth stock boom to be over after one year of beating value, it looks like it very well may be," says Wendell Perkins, portfolio manager of the ( OPLCX) Optique Large Cap Value fund.

"It's basically a multiple issue. Value stocks are very cheap now at 10 to 12 times earnings, and some financial stock multiples have been beaten down into the single digits," says Perkins, whose fund is down 7% this year, but has returned an average of 12.4% annually over the past five years. "Dividend yields in many value stocks are at record highs -- assuming they won't be cut, of course."

The best way to play the eternal struggle between the two asset classes, says Perkins, is for investors to "buy growth stocks at value prices."

Perkins started his own shopping spree by picking up shares of retailer Kohl's ( KSS).

"Retail has been hammered, but it will come back first," says Perkins. "Kohl's still has growth opportunities embedded in it, whereas Target ( TGT) and Lowes ( LOW) are all tapped out when it comes to expansion. Three years ago Kohl's traded at a 35 multiple -- now it trades at 11 times forward earnings -- so it's cheap, and they have great cash flow to grow."

Another one of Perkins' stealth value stocks is Checkpoint Software ( CHKP). The internet and hardware security provider has "a lot of cash and no debt" and trades at a bargain 12 times 2009 estimates.

"The knock on Checkpoint is that its top line has languished but they are trying to grow it now, organically and by acquisition," says Perkins. "Their new products are starting to take off and, in the meantime, it's just a cash cow."

Perkins also calls IT outsourcer Computer Sciences ( CSC) a great value at 11 times 2009 earnings.

"Last year, value stocks were pummeled by the credit crunch and recession fears," says Perkins. "The feeling was that technology and growth would be immune and that worked in 2007 with the Nasdaq performing very well."

Times -- and feelings -- seem to have changed.

Before joining TheStreet.com, Gregg Greenberg was a writer and segment producer for CNBC's Closing Bell. He previously worked at FleetBoston and Lehman Brothers in their Private Client Services divisions, covering high net-worth individuals and midsize hedge funds. Greenberg attended New York University's School of Business and Economic Reporting. He also has an M.B.A. from Cornell University's Johnson School of Business, and a B.A. in history from Amherst College.